Division Manager Saves the Life of a Stranger

Employee of the Week: Family and Community Services employee Michael Robertson

April 15, 2015

Albuquerque- Today, Mayor Richard J. Berry awarded a Division Manager from Family and Community Services Department for being a real life Good Samaritan to a man who was having a medical episode. Michael Robertson showed a great deal of compassion to a man when everyone else overlooked him through his selfless actions, making him this week’s Employee of the Week.

On March 1, 2016, during his lunch break, Robertson was walking downtown during his lunch break when he noticed a man who appeared to be unresponsive. He saw that the man was lying on a busy pedestrian sidewalk with many people walking by him not paying any attention to him. Unlike the others who had dismissed the man as they quickly walked past him, Robertson rushed to the man’s side to see what was wrong and how he could administer aid. After a brief assessment, Robertson flagged down another pedestrian, told them to call 911 and instructed them to get personnel from the Presbyterian Mobile Unit parked down the block.

As that person ran for help, Robertson began to administer CPR to the individual who was in Cardiac Arrest. Emergency personnel arrived on scene shortly thereafter and took over for Robertson. Albuquerque Fire Department responders followed and prepped the man for immediate transportation to the hospital.

It’s easy to look the other way when someone is in distress, but Michael Robertson refused to let the man suffer. It did not take much time out of his day, but his actions made all the difference in that emergency situation. His actions that day speaks to his character and what a compassionate man he is, exhibiting the shining example for all city employees.